LONG ROAD AHEAD

Barra restaurant recovery could prove to be difficult following crash

Residents in the downtown historical district of Amherst were jolted to the sound of sirens a little before 4:30 a.m., May 27, when a vehicle collided with the storefront of Barra’s Tacos and Cocktails Restaurant, 105 Park Ave., which is across from Town Hall.

The Amherst Police Department, assisted by the Amherst Fire Department and LifeCare Ambulance, arrived on scene to find a 2017 Volkswagen Tiquan had crashed into the building causing significant damage.

The vehicle was occupied by an 18-year-old and a 16-year-old.

Both teens suffered minor injuries and it is unclear who was

driving at the time, according to police.

“It is just a terrible unfortunate accident,” said Amherst Mayor Mark Costilow. “Thank goodness both involved have minor injuries.

“If they had hit the building a different way, it could have gone very very bad.”

The building where Barra stands has been a staple of historical downtown for decades.

Originally built in 1880, it first housed John Holzhauer’s General Store.

“Holzhauer established his dry goods store in 1880, but 13 years later in 1893, the building was destroyed by a major fire,” said George Siss, local historian and member of the Amherst Historical Society. “In 1894, the building was rebuilt using its signature flat iron design.”

As the years continued, the flat iron building changed hands many times from a pharmacy to real estate offices, attorney offices and in 2020, Barra’s Tacos and Cocktails.

“Because the building is in the historic district, it is going

to take a very long time to return it back to its original look,” Costilow said. “The building is very significant

to downtown and has become a staple of our town.”

Structural engineers along side city workers came out to inspect the building May 30.

Since the crash, more bricks have fallen from the facade.

So far, there is no estimate in damages or cost to repair as well as no set timeline, but the prices will be significant, Costilow said.

“We have not met with the owner Aaron Byington yet, so we don't know exact costs or a timeline,” he said. “What we do know is it will be very hard work repairing the building because it will need to be fixed to fit alongside its proper timeline when built.”

Byington could not be reached for comment.

Costilow said he is very thankful for the quick response of local first responders.

“Our first responders did not only an amazing job with a fast response to the crash when it happened,” he said. “But, it was their quick thinking that led to a fast reroute of the Memorial Day Parade May 29.

“Without them, we would have lost two pieces of our town history.”

LAUREN HOFFMAN — THE MORNING JOURNAL Barra Tacos and Cocktails as seen from Town Hall on May 30. While exact numbers have not yet been reached, the damage to the historic Flat Iron building in downtown Amherst is estimated to be in the hundreds with recovery not seen in the immediate future.

SUBMITTED A photo taken by a bystander May 27shows the extent of the damage early that morning when the 2017 Volkswagen Tiquan crashed into the historic storefront.